foot powered metal lathe?

[steveo3002]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vintage-m...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item338c9a2562

happend to see this while browsing , didnt know foot powered metal lathes were around ? what sort of age might it be ?

imagine it must take some footwork to turn metal parts?

 

[Fretters]

happend to see this while browsing , didnt know foot powered metal lathes were around ? what sort of age might it be ?

They were around for a long time. Pre 1930's most likely.

imagine it must take some footwork to turn metal parts?

Not as much as you'd think. The flywheels are ****** heavy for good reason.

 

[Dave455]

Most of the ones I've seen date from the last quarter of the nineteenth century to the first quarter of the 20th! They mostly seem to be miniature versions of the larger belt driven machines that were 'industry standard' at that time, and it's basically the same technology!

My family ran a haulage business from the 20's through to the 50's and they had one of these. It lived outside under a tarpaulin and my grandfather reckoned it was good to use - took a bit of effort to get it up to speed, but once it was it was easy to use. You could 'feel' what was going on, and how sharp the toolbit was, but if you cocked something up you probably wouldn't damage the machine!

Here in Sussex quite a few old blokes have still got belt driven machinery, they've just substituted the original steam engine for a stationary petrol engine (in most cases)! Can't remember when I last saw a treadle lathe though, suspect most have had motors added!

 

[bobcatdan]

I could see one of those getting really boring really quick. Metal lathes are kinda set it and forget it. Not saying I would walk away from one, but just sitting there pedaling until your cut is threw would drive me nuts. At least with a wood lathe you are doing stuff to take your mind off it.

 

[WVBrady]

I remember reading about some explorer in Africa (probably one of those crazy British guys ) having his vehicle break down and someone had a foot-powered lathe and was able to make the repair.

 

[Zeke]

It's got a big flywheel and I think if you made shallow cuts with a sharp tool it would be useable. Me, I'd have a motor on it in a day and keep the treadle as a conversation piece. Or tell the grandkids this is how we had to do it back in the school machine shop. lol

 

[sasquatch12]

I see the odd one posted on the net, yes definetly before the 1920's, one thing about them you end up with legs like "popeye" !!! Lol
(Back years ago there were lots of different pedal powered machines, lathes, grinders, scroll saws etc, never ever heard of a table saw though some real old ones were hand cranked, -the job of the apprentice!! Lol

 

[jmlcolorado]

Screw the gym membership!
This thing is SWEET!

 

[Fretters]

I could see one of those getting really boring really quick. Metal lathes are kinda set it and forget it. Not saying I would walk away from one, but just sitting there pedaling until your cut is threw would drive me nuts. At least with a wood lathe you are doing stuff to take your mind off it.

There's no leadscrew on that one, so every part of it is controlled and done by the operator. It's no good for screwcutting.

 

[Fretters]

Some of us do still have treadle powered kit, btw.

 

[WWIIjeep]

Roy Underhill of the Woodwright's Shop on PBS using his 1880s-vintage pedal-powered W.F. & John Barnes lathe:

http://video.pbs.org/video/2296983856/

 

[Zeke]

@Fretters, that is awesome!

 

[UIUC-Mech-E]

Nice Fretters! That's certainly bigger than most foot powered lathes I've seen. Of course most of what I've seen have been watchmaker lathes.
I remember read about some of the early mechanics of the industrial revolution. One (name escapes me) started a shop with 'a lathe and an Irishman to turn it.' Of course back then you could earn a knighthood for being a smart mechanic!


(Insert catchy saying here)

 

[nine4gmc]

Sweet Lathe Fretters!

 

[Dave455]

That's a lovely round bed Drummond Fretters!

I bought a much newer Drummond a few years back (beautiful machine, perhaps the ultimate "gentleman engineers" lathe) and it came with one of those stands. Sadly, it had been chopped about to accommodate a motor, but the treadle was still there!

 

[Fretters]

Cheers chaps. I was expecting to get called a weird ****** for still having treadle stuff.

That's a lovely round bed Drummond Fretters!

I bought a much newer Drummond a few years back (beautiful machine, perhaps the ultimate "gentleman engineers" lathe) and it came with one of those stands. Sadly, it had been chopped about to accommodate a motor, but the treadle was still there!

B or M type? I'm guessing likely M? Have you kept the treadle? The Drummond's have an air and feel of quality about them which is matched by little to none, don't they. Their attention to every detail was superb.

 

[sasquatch12]

Agreed, beautiful lathe, love it!! Thanks for posting the interesting pics, real nice!!

Just curious, did they have tapers in the head/tailstock?

 

[Fretters]

Just curious, did they have tapers in the head/tailstock?

Yup. Only small on that model though. MT1 both ends.

 

[sasquatch12]

Thanks, i forgot to ask also, the crank handle on the bed end is that what moves the carriage?
I have a Wade CAV that is like that.

 

[Dave455]

Cheers chaps. I was expecting to get called a weird ****** for still having treadle stuff.




B or M type? I'm guessing likely M? Have you kept the treadle? The Drummond's have an air and feel of quality about them which is matched by little to none, don't they. Their attention to every detail was superb.

M type, in fact it was so new I think the nameplate said 'Myford - Drummond'! Gorgeous machine complete with a lot of original accessories! Mechanically it was great, but cosmetically tatty! I had some (nearly) original crinkle finish paint, so after cleaning it up got my local bodyshop to spray it and cook it! Looked superb!

I didn't bother doing anything with the stand, but as it turned out the buyer wanted it so I let him have it!

Sort of regret parting with that machine really. I have another, but the bottom right corner of the bed casting is broken so it needs some work, and it came to me as a box of (probably incomplete) bits so I may need to do some hunting around to complete that project!

Yes, superb design and a great size! Even now, a Pultra or Cowells is too small, while, for the average guy, an ML-7 is too big!

 

[Outlawmws]

What kills me is Fretters has several foot powered lathes!

 

[Fretters]

Thanks, i forgot to ask also, the crank handle on the bed end is that what moves the carriage?
I have a Wade CAV that is like that.

It is indeed. That's the handle on the end of the leadscrew.

What are the Wade's like to use? I've always liked the look of those machines.

What kills me is Fretters has several foot powered lathes!

I do have one lathe which runs on electric. Honest.

 

[Outlawmws]

I've got an Atlas/Craftsman 12X36 from about early 70s. and a Craftsman Mod 109 AA 6X12 as well. I'd like to find an old orphan treadle sewing machine base, and use that to power the 109, just for an interesting project. The trick is finding a treadle base where the people owning it don't think it's made of gold..

 

[Fretters]

I know what you mean. Some people don't understand that old doesn't necessarily mean valuable. Tried explaining that to the eldest lad just yesterday, (I'm still wondering why he's even considering the prospect that owt of mine may have any value due to it being old, might I add), and it wouldn't sink in.

What would you be using for the flywheel? Would the sewing machines wheel be heavy enough for a lathe? That would definitely make a nice project. There's something about using a treadle which is just so relaxing too.

 

[Outlawmws]

The sewing machine's wheel is probably light for that, but I'd bet a cars flywheel could be adapted. Crown it and flat belt it, or go with a groove and a round leather belt.

 

[rlitman]

I've got an Atlas/Craftsman 12X36 from about early 70s. and a Craftsman Mod 109 AA 6X12 as well. I'd like to find an old orphan treadle sewing machine base, and use that to power the 109, just for an interesting project. The trick is finding a treadle base where the people owning it don't think it's made of gold..

Flywheel off a stationary bicycle would be perfect. I've gotten the iron from a few Singer treadle bases left for trash. One I cut up and used as my kitchen table base.

 

[Fretters]

The sewing machine's wheel is probably light for that, but I'd bet a cars flywheel could be adapted. Crown it and flat belt it, or go with a groove and a round leather belt.

Sounds a good plan. Flat belt would likely be best, but round works fine too. I run round leather on the Warwick, and it does fine. They're standard V pulleys on that, but it seems happy enough with the round belt, and can take a decent cut with it. Other plus side is that it will slip if you try overdoing something, or if you happen to have a numpty moment.

Flywheel off a stationary bicycle would be perfect. I've gotten the iron from a few Singer treadle bases left for trash. One I cut up and used as my kitchen table base.

Nowt like rubbing it in.

 

[Steinmetz]

I could see one of those getting really boring really quick. Metal lathes are kinda set it and forget it. Not saying I would walk away from one, but just sitting there pedaling until your cut is threw would drive me nuts. At least with a wood lathe you are doing stuff to take your mind off it.

This item must be viewed with historical perspective. If you lacked electrical service, which was relatively common in rural America even in the 1930's, then it was the only way.

 

[BUDSVTX]

Our club had a foot/hand crank powered table saw, with a big heavy cast iron flywheel. Patton date was 1878. Once you got it up to speed and kept it there, you could do just about anything you can do with an electric table saw today. If you were cross cutting small stock, you could peddle it, but if you were ripping long stock, there was a hand crank on the right side that stuck out past the table about 2' and someone had to crank it. It did work great.

BUD

 

[Outlawmws]

Flywheel off a stationary bicycle would be perfect. I've gotten the iron from a few Singer treadle bases left for trash. One I cut up and used as my kitchen table base.

I like this thought, as it should require less adaptation

 

[rlitman]

This item must be viewed with historical perspective. If you lacked electrical service, which was relatively common in rural America even in the 1930's, then it was the only way.

Or you had a sheep powered treadmill that ran the belt.

 

[rlitman]

I like this thought, as it should require less adaptation

Yep. The ones that have the nylon strap that sets the friction should drive a flat belt nicely. The wheel is around 80lbs usually.

 

[rlitman]

Nowt like rubbing it in.

Lol. I saw someone leaving one with the oak in bad shape at the curb down the block, and rolled it home. It sat rusting in my back yard for years before I cut a circle out of a broken pool table's center slate to make my kitchen table. I still have the treadle, flywheel, and middle piece left over.
One more set of castings is in pieces in the attic. And a good complete machine is currently supporting my fish tank.

 

[oldgoaly]

Fretters,
That's a nice one! finding a complete one is getting harder!
Now you would not want you pedal and treadle tools to be lonely would you?
here is an old pic of some of mine. A Barnes 4 1/2 smaller New Demas, a Miller Falls.

 

[James_B]

Fretters,
That's a nice one! finding a complete one is getting harder!
Now you would not want you pedal and treadle tools to be lonely would you?
here is an old pic of some of mine. A Barnes 4 1/2 smaller New Demas, a Miller Falls.

There's one on eBay at the moment, but the price is a bit rich for me.

 

[Fretters]

Fretters,
That's a nice one! finding a complete one is getting harder!
Now you would not want you pedal and treadle tools to be lonely would you?
here is an old pic of some of mine. A Barnes 4 1/2 smaller New Demas, a Miller Falls.

That's a very nice collection you have there. You're not wrong in saying that finding them complete is a struggle. I try to aim for ones which have treadles with them, but even then I've only dropped on one completely original setup, (the one in that photo), so far. The rest are original manufacturer setups, but they're not necessarily off the same model of lathe. They're a bit Heath Robinson.

Is that a tractor seat I see hung upon the wall?

 

[oldgoaly]

yes it is or was a repo tractor seat, sold it, was on the Barnes, I have another 4 1/2 & 5 Barnes plus some pedal saws. But my knees have worn out, so unless the replacement parts are improved, the one for a 80 yr old 90# lady wont last long on a 50+ yr old 200+ old hockey player.

 

[miss_emma_jade]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vintage-m...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item338c9a2562

happend to see this while browsing , didnt know foot powered metal lathes were around ? what sort of age might it be ?

imagine it must take some footwork to turn metal parts?

that's a A11 Lorch or Lorch Schmidt from Germany. the bench isn't original. lathe is about 1910-1925. I have the next model, about 1930.